FBI Orwellian Cyber Police State: Citizens Not Allowed to Have Secrets

""The police and surveillance state predicted in the forward-looking 1940s classic "1984" by George Orwell, has slowly, but steadily, come to fruition. However, like a frog sitting idly in a pan of steadily-warming water, too many Americans still seem unaware that the slow boil of big government is killing their constitutional liberties.

The latest sign of this stealth takeover of civil rights and freedom was epitomized in recent Senate testimony by FBI Director James Comey, who voiced his objections to civilian use of encryption to protect personal data – information the government has no automatic right to obtain.

As reported by The New American, Comey testified that he believes the government's spy and law enforcement agencies should have unfettered access to everything Americans may store or send in electronic format: On computer hard drives, in so-called i-clouds, in email and in text messaging – for our own safety and protection. Like many in government today, Comey believes that national security is more important than constitutional privacy protections or, apparently, due process. After all, aren't criminals the only ones who really have anything to hide?

In testimony before a hearing of the Senate Judiciary Committee entitled "Going Dark: Encryption, Technology, and the Balance Between Public Safety and Privacy" Comey said that in order to stay one step ahead of terrorists, as well as international and domestic criminals, Uncle Sam's various spy and law enforcement agencies should have access to available technology used to de-encrypt protected data. Also, he believes the governmentshould be the final arbiter deciding when decryption is necessary.

What could go wrong there?

Find more articles on the police state at PoliceState.news

Government, at all levels, is responsible

During the hearing, TNA reported, technology experts warned the panel that giving the FBI limitless access to the personal electronic data of Americans would open it up to exploitation by "bad actors." But Comey was having none of that.

"It is clear that governments across the world, including those of our closest allies, recognize the serious public safety risks if criminals can plan and undertake illegal acts without fear of detection," he told the committee.

"Are we comfortable with technical design decisions that result in barriers to obtaining evidence of a crime?"
So, in essence, Comey – like many before him, especially since the global war on terror was launched – believes that, in the name of national security Americans ought to give up more of their individual and constitutional rights because that's the only way we can be adequately protected.

Perhaps realizing that his Senate hearing testimony was public, Comey gave the Constitution a passing glance, noting that the government should respect the "requirements and safeguards of the laws" and the country's founding document. However, as Americans now know, spy agencies during the past two presidential administrations have been tasked increasingly with conducting warrantless, unchecked surveillance of Americans' electronic data and communications.

But all of this is not on men like Comey and Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama. Congress bears its share of responsibility, too.""

This is the way it is – shut up and take it:

http://www.naturalnews.com/050653_police_state_national_security_FBI.html

Speech Police in Full Force Across American Academia

""Generally speaking there are no bigger champions of free speech than journalists and academicians; after all, members of both groups earn their livings publishing news and information.

But a disturbing new trend is taking root in America that promises to chill freedom of speech and, indeed, is already having a stifling affect.

As reported by The Daily Beast here and by NaturalNews here, the University of California– whose president, Janet Napolitano, is President Obama's former Homeland Security chief – has implemented a new speech code that at once aims to celebrate America's diversity while essentially tearing at the fabric of its traditions, culture and heritage.

'That's racist and sexist'

The DB report notes the irony thusly:

Fifty years after the birth of the free speech movement at the University of California, Berkeley, officials across the UC system are encouraging faculty and students to purge mundane, potentially offensive words and phrases from their vocabularies.

Administrators want members of campus to avoid the use of racist and sexist statements, though their notions about what kinds of statements qualify are completely bonkers. "America is a melting pot," "Why are you so quiet?" and "I believe the most qualified person should get the job," are all phrases that should raise red flags, according to the UCspeech police.

Such phrases, we are being led to believe, constitute "microaggressions" - defined as "everyday verbal, nonverbal, and environmental slights, snubs, or insults, whether intentional or unintentional, that communicate hostile, derogatory, or negative messages to target persons based solely upon their marginalized group membership."

So, the "solution" to ensuring freedom of speech, UC style, apparently is to limit speech.

One such microaggressive phrase: America is the land of opportunity. That's "racist" and "sexist."

So far the UC speech code "rules" are merely requests - but because they come from Napolitano, that gives them much more weight. As The DB reported:

On January 5, Napolitano dispatched letters to UC deans and department chairs inviting them to attend seminars "to foster informed conversation about the best way to build and nurture a productive academic climate." That's bureaucrat-speak for learn to keep your mouths shut.

As further noted by The College Fix, seminars were held on nine of the 10 UC campuses throughout the past school year. One professor who chose not to attend shared some of the details and education materials with the publication.

The "microaggressions" were contained in a handout entitled, "Recognizing Microaggressions and the Messages They Send." They were adopted from a book byColumbia University Psychology Prof. Derald Wing Sue, which lists dozens of examples of ordinary statements pertaining to America's founding heritage that are now, somehow, offensive.

Saying, "There is only one race, the human race," is offensive, for example, because it denies "the significance of a person of color's racial/ethnic experience and history."

"America is the land of opportunity," really implies that "people of color are lazy and/or incompetent and need to work harder."

Asking an Asian, Latino, or Native American "why are you so quiet?" is like giving the order "assimilate to dominant culture."

And so on.

Oh, it's a curb on free speech, alright

The really problematic issue here is how such insanity bodes for the country's future. The California university system is attended by tens of thousands of students every year - students whose minds are filled with this ridiculousness and who carry it forth as they begin their professional lives.

Ironically, in response to an inquiry into the seminars by The College Fix, UC spokeswoman Shelly Meron said in an email that, "These seminars are not an attempt to curb open dialogue, debate or classroom discussions."

That, of course, is patently false; if you are accusing someone of committing a "microaggression," are you not then, by process, requesting that said offender not make such statements in the future?""

http://www.naturalnews.com/050401_free_speech_universities_microaggression.html

American's Confidence in Anything Normal Starting to Waver as Negative Outlook on Banks, Government, Religion, Police, and Media at an All Time Low

""An explosive new Gallup poll shows Americans have lost confidence in almost every major institution – from the U.S. presidency, Congress and the Supreme Court to banks and organized religion.

“Americans’ confidence in most major U.S. institutions remains below the historical average for each one,” a Gallup spokesman said.

Only the military (72 percent) and small business (67 percent) have Americans’ increasing confidence, both of which are now rated 4 percentage points higher than their historical norms, according to the poll.

Congress – which plunged 16 points from its average of 24 points – is the lowest ranking institution at just 8 percent.

Just as numerous presidential candidates attempt to convince America that they have the answers to the nation’s problems, the poll shows only one-third, or 33 percent, of Americans have confidence in the presidency, a nosedive from the historical average of 43 percent.

Likewise, just 32 percent said they have confidence in the Supreme Court, which is down from an average of 44 just before the court announces its decisions on landmark issues such as same-sex marriage and Obamacare subsidies to states without insurance-exchange websites.

image: http://www.wnd.com/files/2015/06/gallup_2015.jpg

“Americans’ confidence in most major institutions has been down for many years as the nation has dealt with prolonged wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, a major recession and sluggish economic improvement, and partisan gridlock in Washington,” a Gallup spokesman said. “In fact, 2004 was the last year most institutions were at or above their historical average levels of confidence. Perhaps not coincidentally, 2004 was also the last year Americans’ satisfaction with the way things are going in the United States averaged better than 40 percent. Currently, 28 percent of Americans are satisfied with the state of the nation.”

In 2004, President George W. Bush was re-elected and the U.S. transferred sovereignty and control of Iraq back to the Iraqi people.

At the beginning of 2004, the U.S. economy was booming. Four middle-class tax cuts were extended, including a $1,000-per-couple child tax credit, expansion of the lowest (10 percent) tax bracket, exceptions for the alternative minimum tax, and relief from the “marriage penalty” for two-income families. Another $140 billion in tax relief was granted to U.S. business. Unemployment dropped from 5.7 percent to 5.4 percent.

Regarding the latest poll numbers, the Gallup spokesman added, “From a broad perspective, Americans’ confidence in all institutions over the last two years has been the lowest since Gallup began systematic updates of a larger set of institutions in 1993.”

In the last two years, Americans have seen President Obama begin his second term of office. Amid an explosion of legalized same-sex marriage in numerous U.S. states, the Supreme Court declared the Defense of Marriage Act unconstitutional.

Americans witnessed the debt-ceiling crisis in October 2013, which resulted in the shutdown of the federal government and furlough of federal workers.

By 2014, the Obama administration had announced its plan to shrink the military budget to $522 billion and slash the Army to a size unseen since before World War II. The nation also saw Americans impacted by a West African Ebola outbreak and revelations that the Veterans Administration had covered up exceedingly long wait times for veterans seeking medical attention.

The year 2014 also saw the rise of terrorist group ISIS and racial riots in Ferguson, Missouri, and St. Louis after the fatal police shooting of Michael Brown in August. By 2015, riots had broken out in Baltimore, Maryland, over the shooting of Freddie Gray.

image: http://www.wnd.com/files/2015/06/Gallup_2015b.jpg

According to the Gallup poll, 28 percent of Americans now have confidence in banks, compared to the historical average of 40 percent.

Twenty-one percent said they have confidence in big business, down from 24 percent.

Twenty-four percent have confidence in organized labor, down from 26 percent.

Twenty-four percent have confidence in newspapers, down from 32 percent.

Twenty-one percent have confidence in TV news, down from 30 percent.

Fifty-two percent have confidence in police, down from 57 percent.

Forty-two percent have confidence in organized religion, down from 55.""

Broader Dissatisfaction:

http://www.wnd.com/2015/06/poll-americans-lose-confidence-in-everything/

California Masonic Fraternal Police Department Headed by 3 Vagrants

""It was a plot to rival Foucault's Pendulum: Police in Los Angeles arrested three people in connection with operating a fictitious police department they said was 3,000 years old and had jurisdiction over 33 states and Mexico.

Los Angeles County sheriff's officials told The Associated Press that Brandon Kiel, 31, David Henry, 46, and Tonette Hayes, 58, were arrested last week on suspicion of impersonating officers as members of an organization they called Masonic Fraternal Police Department. The group's website says:

"The Masonic Fraternal Organization is the oldest and most respected organization in the 'World.' Grand Masters around the various states are facing serious safety concerns for their Jurisdictions and their family members. The first Police Department was created by the 'Knights Templar's' back in 1100 B.C. ...

"When asked what is the difference between The Masonic Fraternal Police Department and other Police Departments the answer is simple for us. We were here first! We are born into this Organization our bloodlines go deeper then an application. This is more then a job it is an obligation."

The website lists Henry as its chief of police. The AP reports that Kiel is on administrative leave from his job as deputy director of community affairs at the California Department of Justice. The Los Angeles Times reportsthat he's a low-level aide to California Attorney General Kamala Harris.

The three were arrested April 30 and released later that day.

A police spokeswoman told the AP that deputies found ID cards, uniforms and vehicles "that appeared to look like law enforcement vehicles along with other official police equipment during their search of a home and office linked to the group."

Sheriff's officials told the news agency they launched an investigation after several police chiefs in Southern California received letters in January announcing the group's creation. They said a man who claimed to be Kiel described himself as chief deputy director of the police force and tried to schedule meetings with the law enforcement agencies.""

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2015/05/06/404764522/3-arrested-in-california-for-operating-3-000-year-old-masonic-police-department

Baltimore Protest Heard Around the World Sparks American Outcry Demonstrations in Cities Nation Wide

""Thousands of protesters took to the streets in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Thursday evening, pushing their way through police lines and blocking access to a major highway.

Philly joined a growing list of cities on edge after 100 cops were injured, businesses looted and burned, cars destroyed and bystanders were pummeled in Baltimore Tuesday night, resulting in Maryland calling out the National Guard to restore a degree of calm.

Earlier in the day, crowds gathered for a “Philly is Baltimore” rally outside city hall and moved toward Rittenhouse Square. Protesters later surrounded a police car and stopped a bus, according to Philly.com.

A video of the protest showed crowds standing in the road near a major highway, shouting, “Shut it down!”

The march was organized to show solidarity with Freddie Gray, his family and Baltimore residents. Family members of Gray allege he was injured at the hands of police, and those injuries led to his death at a hospital several days later.

A woman named Angela told CNN, “This is about police ignoring the cry for treating everyone equally. We want answers, and we want them now.”

Another man said, “Police can get away with anything when it comes to a black person.”

Before the crowds broke through police lines, Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Joe Sullivan told CNN, “Protesters are citizens, not suspects. Our job as police it to keep them safe while they exercise their First Amendment rights.”

Sullivan said he’s not worried about violence in the city, according to the report.

Film footage of the scene showed crowds dancing in the streets and chanting, “Hey, hey! Ho, ho! These racist cops have got to go!”

In Cincinnati, Ohio, at least 300 people gathered outside the Hamilton County Courthouse and began marching to police headquarters. Protesters chanted, “No justice, no peace. Let’s take back our streets!” Police threatened arrests of protesters who didn’t stay on the sidewalks.

According to the Cincinnati Enquirer, protesters attempted to enter an I-71 ramp, but police said they had the situation under control.

Downtown Baltimore was unusually quiet Thursday, with some major tourist attractions closed.

Thursday night was a cakewalk compared to the mayhem in cities the night before all sparked by the earlier mayhem in Baltimore where a 10 p.m.-to-5 a.m. curfew was instituted the day after the uprising.

The Baltimore riots were triggered by the death of a young black man, Freddie Gray, who died while in police custody. Police gave their findings on the death of Gray to the state prosecutor Thursday. The results of the police investigation were sent to State Attorney Marilyn Mosby, who will decide whether to bring charges against any of the six officers who were involved in arresting and transporting Gray April 12. Gray died a week later of a severed spine, touching off days of protests, violence and mass arrests.

Some 12 cops were seriously injured – enough to be placed on medical leave and 15 on light duty. In addition, 106 people who had been arrested during the disturbances have been released because police have been unable to charge them during the 48-hour period after their arrest.

According to the Washington Post, the prisoner sharing the police van told investigators he could hear Gray “banging against the walls” of the vehicle and believed he “was intentionally trying to injure himself.”

However, a man identifying himself as that prisoner has come forward to say the police report is inaccurate.

“All I did was go straight to the station, but I heard a little banging like he was banging his head,” the man, Donta Allen, told WJZ-TV, which reported Allen had been arrested on suspicion of stealing cigarettes.

In Baltimore, gun violence has reportedly surged, with at least five people shot in three separate incidents, according to the Baltimore Sun.

“Since the National Guard and outside law enforcement agencies were deployed to certain areas of the city in response to Monday’s unrest, the city has seen six homicides,” stated the Sun report. “Protests have been peaceful, but unrelated gun violence has spiked.”

Protests in Seattle, Washington; Portland, Oregon; and Oakland, California, are scheduled for Friday, which is also May Day.""

http://www.wnd.com/2015/04/round-2-protests-spread-to-more-u-s-cities/

National Guard Deployed as State of Emergency for Baltimore Places City Under Mandatory Curfew

The US city of Baltimore has declared a state of emergency amid violent protests linked to the death of a black man fatally injured in police custody.

""A week-long curfew has been announced and as many as 5,000 National Guard troops could be deployed.

After dark, a community building that was under construction was engulfed in flames.

Earlier, dozens of people were seen confronting police, and 15 officers were injured.

African American Freddie Gray, 25, died on 19 April after a week in a coma. The justice department is investigating exactly where and when his spinal injuries were sustained.

Officials have suspended six police officers who were involved in the case.

Monday's clashes began hours after Gray's funeral.

Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake said it was very clear there was a difference between the "peaceful protests of those who seek justice" and the "thugs who want to incite violence".

Authorities were "deploying every resource possible to regain control of the situation", she said.

Later, following violence, looting and fires in various spots across the city of more than 620,000 people, she said: "This destruction we've seen this evening is heart-breaking."

She has ordered a week-long curfew from 22:00 to 05:00 starting on Tuesday. Public schools are to be closed on Tuesday.

National Guard commander Linda Singh said that up to 5,000 troops could be put on the streets.

"We will be out in massive force," she said, adding that armoured vehicles would be used but the city would not be under martial law.

Extra police officers are also being drafted in from the Mid-Atlantic region.

Earlier, President Barack Obama said his administration would provide whatever assistance was needed.

Governor Larry Hogan issued an executive order to "protect the lives and property of citizens being impacted by this public emergency".

He said calling in the National Guard was a "last resort" and that he had "not made this decision lightly".

Capt Eric Kowalczyk of Baltimore Police said the 15 injured officers were wounded by thrown objects including bricks and bottles. Two remain in hospital.

Police made at least 27 arrests.

On Monday night fire broke out at a newly constructed community building near a church in the east of the city.

Kevin Harris, a spokesman for the mayor, said the fire was at the Mary Harvin Transformation Centre, described online as a community-based organization that supports young people and families.

Before nightfall, scenes included a blaze at a CVS pharmacy, stores being looted and police vehicles being burned and vandalised.

Baltimore's Major League Baseball team the Orioles cancelled Monday night's game against Chicago's White Sox as a result of the violence.""

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32490250